Bearing



July 29, 1941.

A. G. M. MlcHl-:LL Erm. 2,250,546 BEARING Filed Sept. 8, 1937 2 ShetS-Sheeil furie/.4L ,wv/,vo 0W www# Myw. /c'affF/q/EA/rorswfm/c finer/0M 4g /wsfyz'afff/c/avr ai 0F 574677196 4 Fenway.

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ATTORNEYS July 29, 1941. A. G. M. MICHELL'ErAL f 2,250,546

BEARING Filed Sept. '8, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Patented. July 2.9, 1941. l.

Anthony George Maldon Micheli and- August Y olm eggel, Melbourne, New South Wales,

Appucautn september s, 1937, semi No. .162,834

. Australia lSeptember-10, 1936 oriental Cla This invention relates to bearings in which films lof lubricant are formed between the b usual form of these bearings the pads are meing members by the tilting or deilecting of segm ntal elements hereinafter called pads. In the inost chanically pivoted upon one'or other of .the'relatively moving bearing members and if such pads" are intended to rotate they do so at the same speedas the bearing member to which they are attached. In the form to which the present invention relates the pads are interposed vin an annular series between relatively rotating members of the bearing, (e. g. between a shaft-collar and a race of a thrust bearing, or between the journal, or a journal-collar, and an outer bearing member or race of a journal bearing) the series of pads beingI intended to revolve about the axis of the bearingat a diierent speed from each of these members.

In both forms solid contact necessarily exists between the pads and the other -members at the moment of starting the bearing under load. Relative motion betweenthe mutually contacting surfacesI must of course take place before the `vilms of lubricant, with which the bearing is intended to operate when in action, can be formed.

Thrust bearings with pads arranged in the second of the modes above-mentioned, (as well Aas the rst), were` described in British patent speciiiication No. 875 of 1905 land in Australian patent specification No. 4114/05, and constructions of the second `liind have also been proposed for journal-bearings, a series of pads being inter-f posed between an inner revolving journal, or journal collar, and a stationary outer Vrace of the bearing, both the inner and outer surfaces Y. of the pads, and the-surfaces with'which they make working contact, being of cylindrical form.

Such bearings, as hitherto constructed or proposed, have however been subject to the defect that the intended series of pads was in practice journal bearings. Y As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the shaft tok inoperative, or their operation was at best for'- tuitous and unreliable. We have traced the cause of the defect as arising from the failure of the seriesQof pads to start moving relatively to the stationary member, due to the moment of the frictional resistances opposed to their motion being in such bearings as great as, and as a rule greater than, the moment ofthe forces tending to start their revolution. Even if the revolution should be in particularlinstances started, owing to the pads being free from load or to other special circumstances, it is in such bearings liable to cease if direct contact should take place between the pads and the opposed working surfaces vinto practical use.

cable to *and 8.

owing tothe'presence of lsolid particles or other disturbance of the action of the lubricating lms.

VOn account of this defect no .bearings of the class in question'have, so far as we are aware, come 'I'he present invention consists essentially in the means provided for overcoming such defective features of the class of bearingsin question and so rendering them practically useful.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is an axial section Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same bear= ing on line II, II of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 and Fig. l show alternative `forms' ufA the pads of the bearing shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Figs. 5 to 10 illustrate the application of the invention to journal bearings,

Fig. 5 beingy an axial section, and

' Fig. 6 aside view of oneform of the bearing, while Fig. 7 is an enlarged, and partly diagrammatic,

view of one of the pads.

Fig. 8 is an axial section of a portion of a journal bearing showing an alternative construetion, and

Fig. 9 shows an alternative form of pad, applithe constructions shown in Figs. 5, 6

Fig. 10 shows, in transverse section, an alternativel form of the application of the invention to which the thrust-bearing is applied has rigidly z nounted upon it the thrust-collar 2, of which the plane working surface 3 is opposed tothe corres'ponding plane surface 4 of the stationary member, or race,

5, supported by the frame 6 ofthe machine.

The thrust-bearing pads 1, which are of segmental form as shown in Fig. 2, are arranged in a-,cir-` cumferential series between the collar 2, and race 5, and are provided with bearing faces' and l. adapted to make lubricated working contact with the surfaces 3 and C respectively. Each pad 1, may be formed in a single piece as shown in transverse section in Fig. 3, or may be composed of two pieces 1a, 1b, as in Fig. "i, which may either be rigidly hereinbefore cited. The several pads are preferably .mounted in a cage, which may consist of an outer circumferential ring I0 and radial pins H rigidly secured therein,` the cage together-with the pads thus forming a unit adapted to revolve of a thrust bearing embodying the invention, and

attached together, or pivoted upon one another as described in` the patents as s .whole about the axis or the shaft. maependently of the collar 2. A circumferential sur-.

face i 2 may be formed on the frame 3 to prevent undue radial displacement of the cage.

The bearing surfaces 3 and 3 of each pad are preferably offset with respect to one another as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the directions of motion of the collar 2 with respect to the pads and of thepadswithrespecttotheracelbeingas` indicated by the arrows in these figures.

In order that the revolution of the series of as being stationary when it has no, or, as in the case of an engine connecting rod, only a small and secondary rotation with respect to the frame of the machine, around the axis of the bearing.) t 1 Since the loads carried by the two pairs of vcontacting surfaces just mentioned are equal, or very nearly so, the frictional moment applied `by the collar 2 to the series of pads will, with such dissimilar materials, be greater at starting than the resisting moment applied to them by the race l and the pads will commence to revolve.

It is to be understood that the coelcient of starting friction, (for whichwe hereinafter use, for brevity, the word coeicient) is to be measured or estimated under conditions corresponding to those existing at starting in bearings of the nlm-lubricated class, that is to say, with incollars I3 formed on the pins Il), radially inwards into contact with the shaft I as indicated inFigs. 1 and 2. The frictional resistance-at this contact then assists that between the faces 3 and 3 in causing the pads to commence revolving with, l

the collar.

In place of a resilient ring i0, as above del scribed, a rigid ring may be employed with springs of helical or other form interposed between the pads and its inner periphery, the pads being then made of such a shape that some portion ofsghem makes contactwlth the surface I2 .of theeasing 6, when the springs are subjected to the centrifugal forces, corresponding to high speeds while the inner edges of the pads make contact with the shaft at .low speeds, and in the stationary condition, as already-described.

In the mode of application of the invention to a journal bearing shown in Figs. 5 to 9, the journal bearing surface is formed on a collar 22, formed or mounted upon, and rotating with, the shaft 2|, and having a bearing surface 23 which may be either spherical as shown, or cylindrical, or ofsome other form of revolution coaxial with the shaft. The stationary bearing surface 24 is formed on the inner peripheryof the race 23,.

, and may also be either cylindrical as shown, or

tensities of 'loads similar to those which normally occur i`n these bearings, and with lubricant present around the bearing surfaces.

We have found that comparatively wide differences, amply sufilcient for carrying out the purpose herein explained,. exist between various bearing metals which are in ordinary use. Thus, if the surfaces 3 of the pads are faced in the wellknown way with a babbitt," or white metal.of usual composition, such as tin 90 parts, antimony 'I parts, copper 3 parts by weight, the surfaces 8 of the pads may be faced with the "white-metal alloy having approximately the composition cadmium 90, antimony 5, and copper 5 parts, the collar 2 and the race 5 being both of steel. We have found that the coefficients of these respective pairs of metals are in the proportion of approximately 3 to 2.

- Alternatively the surfaces 3 and 9 of the pads may be both formed of one or other of the "white metals above-mentioned, the collar 2 being of phosphor-bronze and the race 5 of steel, as we have found that the coefficient of phosphor bronze with each of these bearing metals, is more than double the coefficient of steel with the same Other suitable pairs of metals will be referred to hereinafter in connection with the application to journal bearings.

As further provision for the same purpose of I causing the revolution of the pads to start with spherical, or of the form of any other suitable surface of revolution, this race being mounted in a housing machined in the fixed frame 23 of the machine.

The bearing pads 21 are arranged in a clrcumferential series between the collar 22 and the race 25, each of the pads, (see Fig. 7), having an internal vsurface 28 contacting with the journal l surface 23, and an external bearing surface 2l contacting with the surface 2l of the rase 2l, sufficient clearance being allowed to permit the pads to move circumferentially with films of lubricant interposed between the surfaces. The outlines of the individual pads, as seen in projec tion on a tangential plane, may be either rectangular or of other suitable form. They may,

for instance, be of longitudinally tapering or scutiform shape as described in United States Patent No. 1,507,020 or, in order. to retain each pad in correct location with respect to the adjacent pads of the series, it may be formed with projections or recesses by which mutual engagement of the pads is effected. Alternatively, the

pads of the series may be retained in' correct po'I sition by being severally connected to a retaining ring `or cage corresponding tothose commonly used in ball or roller bearings, or to that hereinbefore described in connection with a thrustbearing. When such rings or cages are used the pads may be flexibly attached to them by pins or the like, and the outlines of the bearing portions of the pads may then conveniently be circular with a view to simplifying manufacture.

As in the hereinbefore-described thrust-bearing, the pads 21 may each be either in one piece (Figs. `5 -to '7), or in two pieces, 21a, 2lb, Fig. 9,

. and in the latter case may either be rigidly connected together or pivoted upon one another at or near the middle of the length of the combined pad as shown. 'I'he effective surfaces, 23, 23 of each pad preferably extend over only a portion of its circumferential length.

As in the case of the thrust-bearing also, the surfaces-of the pads in contact with the stationary race are faced with, or composed, of, a material having a lower coemcient of static friction with the race than the coefficient of friction between the pad and the rotating collar, in order that the intended revolution of the 'series of pads may be initiated from a state of rest.

'musboth the 0011er 2z and the race zu, being of steel, the pads may be made of cast-iron, preferably of a hard and dense quality, polished on their outer faces while the inner faces may be lined with the tin-base white-metal, as hereinbefore specified in connection with thrust-bearings, these pair of metals having a much higher coefllcient than the pair steel and cast-iron,

The spherical form of the collar 22 and the internal surfaces of the pads 21 as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the outer surfaces of the pads being -cylindrical, is favorable to the starting action hereinbefore described since, due to the inclinae asfshown in Fig.'8, be formed as a surface ofV revolution' of which the generating line is sinuous or is otherwise inclined in part more steeply towards the axis than the circular generating'line of the sphere indicated in Fig. 5, the sum of the pressures on the internal surfaces of the pads' being thus increased to any desired degree above the sum of the pressures on their external faces.

As further alternatives the outer surfaces of the pads 21vmay be faced with a friction-reducing material, instead of their inner surfaces being faced with a friction-increasing material or both surfaces may be faced with materials having friction-coeflicients in the required relation to one another.

For example, the pads may be of the tin-base white metal already mentioned, or of a wellknown bearing alloy consisting of approximately 46 parts by weight of tin, 42 parts of lead and .if 12 parts of antimony, and the inner surfaces 2t' may be formed directly on this metal,while the vouter surfaces 29 are faced withgthe cadmium alloy already mentioned, and boththe collar 22 and race 25 are of steel with polished faces. e and 24. Alternatively the pads may be of steel.v or other metal faced on the inside with the' said tin base, or the said tin-lead base alloy, andonr the outside with the cadmium alloy.

We have found that the coefficients of' the said tin base, and said tin-lead base alloys upon steel are approximately equal both being about 50 per cent. greater than the coefficient of the cadmium alloy on steel.

The same eects may of course be `obtained by the use in the collar 22 and race'25 of different materials, or by applying different facing materials to form the faces 23 and 24 thereon, such materials having the required ratio of coefficients in contact with the pads, in this case composed of the same material throughout or faced on both the faces 28 and 2@ with the same material.

, Thus, as hereinbefore stated for the corresponding parts of thrust-bearings, the collar 22 may be I of phosphor bronze and the race 25 ofsteel, the pads being either wholly composed of, or lined on both inner and outer faces with, one of the white-metal alloys hereinbefore specified.`

Alternatively again, the required effect may be obtained by suitable selection ofvdiiferent ma-l 3 terials for the collar 22 and'the race 25, these materials having the required difference of frictional coemcient in contact with themate'rial of the pad 21. Itis for instance known that the coefficient of static friction between polished steel and white bearing-metals or Babbitt metal ismuch greater than between two faces 0f polished steel. l'hus if the collar 22, pads 21 and race 2 5 are all'of steel and either the outer face of the collar, or the inner faces of the pad, are faced with one ofBabbitt-metal, all the other bearing surfaces being merely polished, the initial relativel j.motion will take place between the pads 21 and ,race 25, as desired.

In the alternative mode of construction of the series of pads for a Journal bearing shown in Fig. 10, an integral ring, 2|, is composed of padmembers 32, 32a, and connecting members 22, in

such a manner `that the leading edges 2l, 24a of the pad members, 32a, being relatively thin, are capable of deilecting resillently so as to permit the formation of wedge-shaped films of lubricant between them and the coacting surfacesl of the collar 22 and the race 25. This action is vsupplemented by the resilience of the members 22,4

connecting the adjacent pads, the pads being thereby rendered capable of tilting as individual wholes.

In the particular form of this type which is shown in Fig, 10, the edges 35 and 35a, 0f the pad-members 32, 32a, A are .of similar reduced thickness as the edges 34, 34a, so that the bear ing is capable of functioning similarly with either direction of rotation. 1n Fig. 10, also, the padmembers numbered 32 and those numbered 82a,

form two distinct series, the former coacting with the collar 22, and the latter with the race 2l. Similar integral constructions may be employed in which there is only one annular series, of pads connectedl together by resilient members, each pad in this case having two facesone of which makes sliding contact with a collar, as 22, and the other with a race, as 25.

Alternatively again, one of the series of deflect- 32 and 32a may be replaced by In all cases the materials and/or form of the -respective contact surfaces are differentiated in the manner already described in order to effect the starting of the rotation of the 'annular series of pads.

To guard 'against failure of this starting action,

n' due, for instance, to increase of the viscosity of the lubricant at exceptionally low temperatures or as the result of long inaction of the bearing, means such as those described in United States Patent No. 1,236,337 may be employed, in certain cases, for introducing a fresh film of lubricant under the loaded pads of the bearing at starting,` and'means may be provided for` warming the oil so introduced, or, with the same object, means may be incorporated for warming a portion. or the whole, of the bearing itself.

What we claim is:

l. In the type of bearings which comprises a rotatable member, a stationary member and an interposed anti-friction device rotatable in rela.-` tion to both of said members, in which said device has parts contacting the respective members, in which the total starting friction between said device and the stationary member is less than the total starting friction between the moving member and the device, whereby movement of Athe rotatable member upon 'starting will he` imparted to the device to initiate the rotation of the device.

2. In a bearing wherein the load is transmitted from the moving member to the stationary member through interposed tilting pad elements rotatable with respect to said members, elastic means producing at starting frictional resistance to rotation of the moving member relatively to the pad elements additional to the resistance be- 'ber resisting the rotation of the pad elements is less than the friction of the moving member tending to rotate said elements. i

4. In a bearing, tilting pad elements interposed between moving and stationary members of the bearing so as to be circumferentially rotatable in yrelation to each of said members and to make lubricated'sliding contact therewith, said pad elements being .formed with a material in contact with said movingnnember having a higher coeillcient of friction therewith than the coeflici- .ent of friction at the contacts of said pad elements with said stationary member.

5. In a journal bearing, a series of load-carrying tilting pad elements interposed between inner and outer relatively rotating members of the bearing so arranged as to becircumferentially rotatable in relation to each of said members and t make lubricated sliding contact therewith, said pad elements having segmental spherical inner surfaces andV segmental cylindrical outer surfaces making contact respectively with a sphericalv outer surface formed upon the inner of said members and a cylindrical inner surface formed upon the outer of said members.

6. In a journal bearing, a series of load carry ing tilting pad elements interposed between inner and outer` relatively rotating members of the bearing so arranged as to be circumferentially rotatable in relation to each of them and to make lubricated sliding contact therewith, said pad elements Abeing formed with segmental spherical surfaces making contact with a spherical inner surface formed upon the outer of said members and with innerfsurfaces forming segments of a surface of revolution which in parts 'is more steeply inclined to the axis of rotation than any part of said spherical surfaces.

. ing a higher coeilicient of friction than the pair of materials making mutual contact on-the cylindrical surfaces.

8. In a bearing, tilting pad elements interposed between and rotatable with respect tomoving and stationary members of ferrous material, the surfaces of the said elements in contact with the stationary member being formed of an alloy consisting chiefly of cadmium and the surfaces of@ said elements in contact with the moving member being an alloy consisting chiefly'of tin or of tin together with lead. i

9. In a journal bearing, a series of load-carrying tilting pad elements interposed between a rotating inner member and a. stationary outer' member so arranged as to becircumferentially rotatable relatively to each of said members and tomake lubricated sliding contact therewith, said pad elements having segmental spherical inner surfaces making contact with a spherical outer surface upon said innermember and' segmental cylindrical outer surfaces making contact with a cylindrical inner surface upon said outer member, the said cylindrical and spherical surfaces of said pad elements being4 formed respectively of 7. In a journal bearing, a series of load carryan alloy consisting chiefly of cadmium and an alloy consisting chiefly'of tinor of tin together with lead, and the contacting surfaces of said inner and outer members consisting of ferrous material. f

l0. In a journal bearing, tilting pad elementss interposed between moving and stationary mem' bers of the bearing so arranged as to be circum- Fferentially rotatable in relation to each of said members and to make lubricated sliding contact therewith, the surfaces of the said moving member and the corresponding surfaces of the pad elements in contact therewith being in part at least more steeply inclined towards the axis than the surfaces of the said stationary member and the surfaces of the pad elements corresponding thereto.

ANTHONY GEORGE MALDON MICHELL. s AUGUST JOHN SEGGEL. 

